Battle.net Desktop Client - Services Activated and Beta Test Opt-in
Blizzard finally flipped the switch on the new Battle.net desktop client and it is now available to people selected for the beta. A couple extra features have emerged:

You no longer have to log in to WoW, SC2, or D3, as clicking play will automatically log you in.

A list of your BattleTag and RealID friends is now shown in a small window in the client.

Chat is disabled for this phase of testing, but you will be able to chat with your BattleTag and RealID friends in the future.

Battle.net Launcher Update: Testers Wanted

Originally Posted by Blizzard
(Blue Tracker / Official Forums)

We're continuing the Battle.net®-related testing we mentioned previously. As part of this, we're now inviting beta testers to help test and refine a new desktop app for Battle.net designed to improve the launcher experience for all Blizzard games and streamline the ability for players to get into their games.

If you’d like to help us with the testing, head to your Battle.net Beta Profile and opt in to at least one of the game universe beta tests (if you haven’t done so already). We’ll be inviting players to the beta test in waves—if you’re selected, your Battle.net account will be flagged automatically and you’ll receive an email with additional details.

When does the beta test begin? How do I opt-in?
The beta test is now underway. If you’d like a chance to participate, first make sure you’ve created a BattleTag, and then head to your Beta Profile Settings and opt in to any of the Warcraft, StarCraft, or Diablo beta tests. See the Beta Opt-In Instructions for a helpful walkthrough. If you have already opted in for a previous Blizzard beta, you don’t need to opt in a second time.

What platforms and languages are supported?
The Battle.net desktop application is available for Windows and Mac in English, Spanish, Brazilian Portuguese, French, German, Italian, Russian, Polish, traditional Chinese, and Korean.

What regions can participate?
Players in the Americas and Oceania, Europe, Korea, and Taiwan can participate. Players in mainland China will not be able to participate in this beta test. We’ll have more information to share about our plans for the Battle.net desktop app in mainland China in the future.

Is there a non-disclosure agreement?
There is not a nondisclosure agreement for this beta test. Those invited to play are free to take screenshots and discuss the app. Participants can give us feedback in the beta test forums.

How does game patching work through the Battle.net desktop app?
When you’re logged in to the Battle.net desktop app, it automatically downloads and installs updates for all supported games as they become available. You can patch one game at a time; the Battle.net desktop app also allows you to pause the patching process for one game in order to patch another, if needed.

Which Blizzard games are supported in the Battle.net desktop app?
The Battle.net desktop app allows you to launch Diablo III, StarCraft II, and World of Warcraft. Classic Blizzard games such as Diablo II, StarCraft, and Warcraft III are not currently supported, though we’re looking into the possibility of adding support for these games in the future.

I want to use the game-specific launcher for one of my games. How do I do that?
During the beta, you can switch to the previous launcher by uninstalling the Battle.net desktop app. As long as the Battle.net desktop app is installed on your system, you will not be able to access World of Warcraft, StarCraft II, or Diablo III through their standard launchers.

Can I log in to the Battle.net desktop app on multiple computers?
Yes, although the original login will expire if your account is logged in from another computer.

Can I still access the Battle.net website in my browser?
Yes, the Battle.net website will stay the same. The Battle.net desktop app provides a quick, convenient way to access your Blizzard games and certain features of Battle.net account management without opening a web browser.

Will everyone’s launchers eventually be updated to the Battle.net desktop app?
Yes — in the future, every Blizzard gamer will need to use the Battle.net desktop app to play their favorite Blizzard games. The Battle.net desktop app will replace the individual game launchers for World of Warcraft, StarCraft II, and Diablo III, and will act as your gateway to accessing future Blizzard games.

We’ll let players know in advance when we plan to roll the app out to everyone.

I'm having an issue—how can I get help?
Check the Known Issues List or visit the Battle.net desktop app beta forums to see if your issue is mentioned there. During the beta test, if you’re unable to resolve the issue and it’s preventing you from accessing your games, you can uninstall the beta client at any time to go back to using a game’s standard launcher.

I don't know about separate battle.net accounts; that might be sketchier since it would mean you would need two desktop apps. I can see that maybe being problematic although that's sort of an unconventional way to do things, so it wouldn't surprise me if it wasn't supported.

You can launch the app multiple times, it's off by default but you can enable it via settings.

Originally Posted by Tziva

I haven't tried (I'll try tonight - I have two licenses) but I think you can as long as they're different wow accounts under the same battle.net. If it doesn't work yet, it should eventually or I imagine there would be a huge uproar from multiboxers.

You can launch multiple clients straight from the app, you even get a dropup menu to select which account you wish to launch similar to the old logon in the game itself.
The app is still active in the background after you open the game, tabbing back is not an issue.
Besides, if you can still launch games without the app multiboxers would have nothing to uproar against regardless.

I'm sure many of them are using scripts to launch all their clients anyways.

You can launch the app multiple times, it's off by default but you can enable it via settings.

Have you tried it, though? It doesn't work right now, at least not for me. It errors.

Originally Posted by Grindfreak

You can launch multiple clients straight from the app, you even get a dropup menu to select which account you wish to launch similar to the old logon in the game itself.

Yeah I knew about the dropdown, mainly because it's defaulting to my second account every time and I accidentally log into the wrong account every time. But I hadn't actually tried it to see if swapping and hitting 'play' again would just log out the current one and log it in to the other license, or if it actually launched a second client.

(fwiw, Grindfreak is right - I just tested; it launches a second client for your second wow license)

Virtual Realms are coming, which will essentially merge realms. This will allow you to keep playing on your current realm, but trade with and do arenas, raids, and dungeons with people in your realm group, as well as use a merged Auction House.

no one saw that or why is nobody talking about that? :x
i think this is a hudge change

As to booting with the OS, there's always a way to stop those programmes from doing that, Bnet's Client won't be any different.

I don't know in what world you live, but having 4 front-ends (Steam, Origin, U-Play and now Battle.net) is a good thing. That is 4 programs that are running in the background, regardless of how much memory or CPU time they consume, it's still 4 programs which shouldn't be there from the get go like it was in the past and it worked flawlessly.

I can deal with Steam potentially since it's really become the biggest game store on the internet, but to have every publisher and smart pants guy bring out their own front-ends it's not better for the consumer it is in-fact worse.

And before you start, if I disable all those launcher/front-ends to launch with Windows, I have to wait about 15-30 seconds when I want to play a game before those exact same launchers actually launch, authenticate and run the game, something that would take me exactly 1 second on this machine if the games wouldn't be DRMd to hell and would just allow me to click twice on the .exe file.

Aside of that every battle.net enabled game already requires authentication when you want to play, so there is no reason for this what-so-ever for a DRMed front-end.

I'm kind of curious what happens with the final product and I try to launch WoW.exe, if it start opening the Battle.net thing, I will face palm.

I don't know in what world you live, but having 4 front-ends (Steam, Origin, U-Play and now Battle.net) is a good thing. That is 4 programs that are running in the background, regardless of how much memory or CPU time they consume, it's still 4 programs which shouldn't be there from the get go like it was in the past and it worked flawlessly.

This paragraph is a wee bit contradictory isn't it?

As to what world i live in, i live in a world where i want my computer to boot as fast as possible, so i don't want every single brand environment and game hub to launch at once. Currently, apart from all the important software i only have Steam to open with Windows, as there's no need for the rest. And i believe there's plenty of people who share my views on this.

I can always launch Bnet, Origin or whatever when i need it, right?

And before you start, if I disable all those launcher/front-ends to launch with Windows, I have to wait about 15-30 seconds when I want to play a game before those exact same launchers actually launch, authenticate and run the game, something that would take me exactly 1 second on this machine if the games wouldn't be DRMd to hell and would just allow me to click twice on the .exe file.

Those apps don't just launch instataneous out of thin air. Those seconds you "gain" when you want to play a game are seconds used up at the OS boot to prepare the apps. I prefer my computer to boot faster than having my games open instantly, by a long margin.

I can deal with Steam potentially since it's really become the biggest game store on the internet, but to have every publisher and smart pants guy bring out their own front-ends it's not better for the consumer it is in-fact worse.

Once again i'm confused as to wether or not you like having those steam-like apps or not...